Finished 6/21/2026! This was a last minute Father's Day gift that I stayed up all night to finish. I learned a lot from #43834, and I wasn't as invested in this piece so I took some chances experimenting. First, I didn't over-complicate my base string layout at the beginning the way I did on the other one. That first row is 8 knots with 4 base strings hidden in each knot on the edges. I just took one base string out with each successive row, and I think it makes the back look cleaner too. This might have something to do with how I managed to keep the edges straighter on this keychain? Don't know how that happened, but I'm not complaining!
This is also my first time not using the clean back technique- it wasn't worth it when the design would end up reversed. I think the method of color changes in the clean back technique makes things easier (especially when you have lots of quick color changes like on row 17) because it does away with the problem of string tension when you have to bring a color back for only one knot by keeping the appropriate amount of string hidden in the previous knot, you don't have to measure that out yourself. I struggled with that while doing the logo on the helmet, and ended up going back and "embroidering" some of the knots so they'd show up better. Also my first time ending an alpha pattern with this tidy little square knot tassel! I really like it!
After I had washed the keychain and combed out the tassel, I whipstitched a small piece of white felt to the back to protect the loose strings from getting snagged on anything. For this piece, I don't care that the color shows through the back a bit. Overall, a success!
ENCB1408
